West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1887-09-01

NV lfAtANiiNfA Wv slENnECFS IN senrGn Dt
quiet ruSticity, near the boundary between
Tuscany and Lombardy. After his din
ner oil risotto-stewed kid and pumpkin
howers fried In b tter-Mr. Calcott began
to take his bearings. IL was, indeed
pretty, picturesque nook, tucked comfort.
ably IN side pocket of the mountain.
eyes, had worn him gaunt and grim, as
he believed and privately hoped, and
made sojourn in Natures solitudes best
for him
Sitting on bench at the end of the
path he had chosen, Mr.. Calcott saw "A
lady In black dress absobed in a piece
Of needlcwork. Jeremy lifted his hat
as he passed, aud was continuing his
way, when to his surprise the lady called
him back and motioned him to a place
beridc her.
with the piue-tops embroidering the in.
tense blue of the sky above, and chestnut
groves gathering round the peasants
houses of gray stone with red tiled roofs
Very primitive, silent and lonely. but
quite suited TO Mr.. Calcott's frame of
mind. The gnawing heart hunger
awakened by a certain pair of bonny black
You are the man who bandaged my
sister Dora's finger in the train that day /:
very tritiing pinch you and she both
knew, not at all worth the waste of a
handk rhief Dora kept the piece with
the initials on livery silly of her." she
began.
Jeremy could scarcely believe his eyes
and ears. Here, dropped down in this
most hidden of hamlets, was the dull
young person who had so fidgeted and
yawned during that, 10 him, most bliss
ful journey from Sicna. Was her sister
with her! Calcott's knees trembled with
JOY at the delightful possibility, and then
chill froze his blood at the fear that the
sisters might have parted company.
"My sister will be glad TO see you; she
has wearicd me TO death talking about
YOU
Though not wholly complimentary.
this was music 90 Calcott's ears, for il
hnted at Dora's having forgiven him for
his sharp judgment appropos of quadru-
ped pets. He had already possessed him
self OF her name as precious treasure.
Isis your sister herel" hazarded
Jeremy.
"Yes; she is sitting with Conrad, to
keep the flies off him while he sleeps"
Hereupon, 60 Jeremy's great discomfit-
ure, the young lady burst into tears.
With prdiseworthy desire TO divert her
thoughts, he began, with painful dis
play of mannish ignorance, TO question
her about the work now lying unheeded
on her lap. She frightened up immedi-
ately, and displayed her handiwork TO
Calcott, the nature of which caused him
considerable astonishment. A square of
black silk with skull and cross.bones.
skilfully embroidered in white. enliven-
ing one corner, aud small coffin. with
Hic .jacet on the lid, in process of com
pletion on two Of the others.
Pm making this for n lady who has
lost her husband; it is TO wear round the
neck; she always liked pretty little
shawl Don't you think it will please
herY'
yes" answered Calcott; "there is
something so original and-and 50 cheer.
ing about 1t, you know"
"Yes. Everything Oh, there comes
Dora; YOU can talk To her instead. I'm
going 20 Conrad" whereupon the &c
centric young lady hustled her work out
of sight in a basket, and beat hasty
and unceremOnious retreat
With the grace and loveliness of an
ideal queen, Dorm advanced over the
ROlUEU
on the path. Instead Of the poke bonnet.
a parasol lined with pale rose protected
her dainty head, with its dusky crown of
hair soft and glossy as silk, from the
glinting sunshine.
With flush Of pleasure, as the vain
young man chose 10 construe it-though
1T might have been only the reflex from
the silken canopy over her head she
recognized Mr.. Calcott
''I'm very glad chance has thrown us
together again" she said, sweetly, cx-
tending her hand. pm going for n
short walk through the fields Will you
come with mel
Had she asked him to join her in n
ramble over redhot plowshares he would
have counted himself among the luckiest
OF mortals. After the first lull in their
chat upon ordinary subjects, Dora's man
ner changed, and she said, seriously:
My sister has been showing you some
Of her dismal embroidery. She was not
quite quick enough to escape my eye"
Eyes; / thought IL rather odd, but"
"Of course her manner has given you
an inkling Of the truth. ! rarely talk Of
my afflicted sister 20 strangers, but AZ we
arc likely 10 be together here for some
weeks, and as you arc my compatriot
and most kind hearted, would like YOU
to know the whole truth Let us sit
down on this fallen tree, and will tell
you a story as briefly as ] can
Much interested, Calcott obeyed, and
she began:
Give years ago, Hilda-my father was
twice married. and she is my half-sister
was engaged to be married 20 one Of
the best, truest men on all the wide earth.
/ was at chat time q feather Drained girl
Of sixteen. We were spending the sum
mcr in the TyrOl; one afternoon, Conrad
(Hilda's lOve) and 7 were walking alone
along a steep mountain path above Tob-
lach ] coveted q fascinating clump Of
fringed gcntian growing few feet lower
than the path; far below where it lodged
lay the rocky bed Of the stream. told
Conrad ! intended 20 climb down and
get the flowers lie laughed, and said r
must be mad to think OF riskinQ my life
for such a trino, nor was he gallant
enough TO peril his own neck. Later,
when he was absorbed IN o sketch. 7 ran
back and scrambled down for the plant
lit would be such a triumph 10 surprise
him with IT,
~ slipped, and fell a short distance
At my screams Conrad flew to help me.
and managed to hold me till j could
seize the root Of q tree and drag myself
back 20 the path. Tie lost his footing.
and they found him lying on the moss